If I do a deed I think is good but in fact it is bad, am I guilty or innocent?

Question

There are some instances when a person strives their whole life to make the world a better place and then at the end realize they have done great harm instead. Is it more important what they intended or what the actual results are? How do we evaluate our lives when we have a shift of perception late in the game?

lol crazy i read the book. I hear it is a lot deeper than the play.

Answer 1

Tough question - very thought provoking!
Ever heard the expression, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions?" I think it is important to have good intentions, but when you realize your good intentions have done harm, own up to the harm and apologize if it was your fault. That very well may absolve you from guilt, but might not eliminate the hurt you have caused - that takes hard work and patience!

Answer 2

"...a deed I think is good but in fact it is bad" is a false concept. The deed cannot be bad, the bad is in the unpredictable consequences. You could not possibly be guilty. If, however, you see a pattern of harm in results, perhaps you haven't evaluated your actions sufficiently. Otherwise, you're not responsible for something over which you "later" have no control. I'm not sure what you mean by "...a shift in perception." Do you mean your perception of what you DID, & your intentions, or that you're perceiving the results? This makes quite a difference. You might be interested in a question I recently answered, "Is it possible to do harm by "doing good"? (In philosophy.) It's quite a bit like yours. Your intention is always more important than the results. Once you let the "dove" fly from your hands--well--who knows what may land on someone's head?? Would you be guilty? Follow your "heart" & consider wisely--that's the best anyone can do.

enki the wise one

Answer 3

I believe it depends on the circumstance. If their was evidence already existing to show what you did would harm instead of help, you are at fault for making a hasty decision. If instead, you tried to help, and it just didn't work, you had no control over the outcome, and are therefore innocent. By the way, this question reminds me of Elphaba's dilemma in "No Good Deed" from the musical Wicked, have you seen it. If not, get the soundtrack, and try to see the show, it is amazing.

Answer 4

Allow me use the eight ball billiard game as an analogy.
You intend to knock your ball into a pocket. The q-ball continues to roll and knocks the eight ball in a pocket costing you the game.
It is wise to analyze a situation before committing yourself to a possible positive action. The old adage of the best laid plans of mice and men takes precedence in some cases and our plans go awry. We have to look at the INTENTION to determine the guilty feelings as well as the contributing factors and weigh in the balance accordingly.

Answer 5

In terms of physical impact and repercussions, it is obviously the deed that counts more..... however, in terms of human relations and appraisals, it is the intent that counts more.

The kind of instance you are talking about, the person would necessarily feel sorry for the undesirable results, but need not feel guilty for the same... at worst he may feel foolish or ignorant for wrong notions of the past.

Answer 6

Majority of the harm done by humanity are out of good intentions,
& we only realize it once the damages are irrevocably done.
it's our common flaw, to mistake happiness as a product of good deeds.
We search, we seek, we think for the best.. but the outcome isnt necessarily the best.
Actions may not always bring happiness,
but there is no happiness without action.

your intention isnt all, the outcome is often unpredictable..
how you act upon it will always matter most.
& most often, you'd know it if you did right or wrong.
:-)

Answer 7

Babey,
that Is the best question
anyone
ever
asked!
Great!
The toughest one too
goes way deep
to the core
of me
of you, too.
e.g.
When police stopped me driving drunk
these friends of mine had brought the drinks
(in Lybia, too, you cannot even walk drinking)

Point is
sure I
I told them I was alone
I drank just beer
I made myself
(bulshit, certainly)
went to jail
'damage limitation'
right?
The one thing that does not
give a **** about majority rule
is your conscience.
Any decision that
leaves you at peace with yourself
is good
if it leaves you feeling guilty
drop it.
Never mind anyone else.
You have the feeling
Use it. Trust it.
And it's usually tough,
hurts (at the start, it is great later)
K.

Answer 8

It depends on the social stigmata that is placed on the event in question. Sleeping with a 12 year old girl when you are 27 in America is absolutely wrong. Sleeping with a 12 year old girl when you are 27 in africa........not so wrong. It depends on the Mores of the culture in question. Also look back at the saying. "No good deed goes unpunished." or "the path to hell is paved with good intentions".

Answer 9

an easy answer would be, if you feel any guilt then you are guilty. for example, skateboarding on my school's campus is illegal, yet i do it anyways. i feel that there is nothing wrong it, so there is no guilt. if the deed you thought was good but it causes harm you will know it causes harm...how innocent will you feel knowing this?

Answer 10

If somebody murders a person but he thinks that is good. Of course he is guilty. He has to live by Society's rules not his own.